District Conservationist Biographical Sketch



Jerald Kovarik
District Conservationist
Upper Elkhorn NRD
 

I was born and raised in Burwell, Ne. I graduated from Burwell Jr - Sr High and attended college at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. Shortly after graduating, I started working for SCS in O'Neill as a temporary employee on April 7, 1987. After 6 months I was hired as a Soil Conservationist. I then changed positions and became a Rangeland Management Specialist. I held this position until I accepted the Resource Conservationist position here in O'Neill. One year later, I then applied and accepted the District Conservationist position.

Resource Needs and Concerns

 

• Water Quality
• Range Health
• Livestock operations/manure management
• Increased awareness of BMP's for landusers involved in production agriculture
• Increase cost-share funds so more conservation can be applied
• Increase funding to the NRD so more special projects can be addressed
• Promote wildlife habitat for sustained use of the land and an increase in recreational opportunities

Priorities Address by NRCS

 

• Groundwater Quality
  
  Water sampling, chemigation permits, nitrogen Best Management Practices, demonstration projects on center pivots using various fertilizer rates, irrigation water management, static water levels and groundwater monitoring wells, and static water levels on wells throughout the district.
• Rangeland
  
  Increase awareness of BMP's relating to range practices and promote planting of marginal cropland back to grass.
• Seek alternative funding (grants) for general NRD operation and programs.

Primary programs and services

• EQIP
• Wildlife habitat improvement program
• Wetland initiative program
• Wildlife habitat incentive program
• Partners for wildlife
• WRP
• CRP
• 319
• Environmental trust
• NSWCP
• NRD
• Great Plains (existing contracts)